DRAMA ACTIVITY (DBNS)

Having settled down in my career, I thought of engaging myself in Drama Activities.  In New Delhi, there were two Dramatic Societies viz. South Indian Theatres (SIT) AND Dakshina Bharat Nataka Sabha (DBNS).  I joined DBNS for my drama flavor.  The DBNS used to stage dramas during the month of October-November every year for a three or four day Drama Festival.  I remember Shri Ramanathan (Director), SKS Mani, Yumuna Mani, Krishnaswami Sir, Delhi Ganesan, Thayappan, Smt. Anandi and her husband,  Vaidyanthan and his wife (others I do not remember) have been active participants in the dramatic activities. At any particular point of time, we used to take up three or four Dramas to be staged and start the rehearsan right from the month of May-June.   The old dramas (already performed) require few rehearsals and the new ones take a minimum of 12 to 15 rehearsals.  Usually, the rehearsals are held in one of the DTEA School in the evening between 7 to 9 pm on a daily basis.  All those who are actors in a particular drama and others will also attend the rehearsals for following the sequence of the drama during its performance on the Stage.  Everyone will take part in organizing the staging of the drama like make up, prompting, lighting, properties etc.   Usually dramas used to be staged in the AIFACS (All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society) in Rafi Marg where facilities like lighting, curtains, green room etc. were available.

I have acted in atleast six dramas which were staged and I only remember Oru Poi and Mazhai .  Delhi Ganesan was the leading role in most of the Dramas. 

There used to be lot of confusion behind stage when a drama is staged.  Normally every one will follow the Q word of the previous person.  Sometimes, a actor will forget to mention the Q word  and the next person will fumble without starting his dialogue.  At that time prompter will give the clue.   The light/screen operator will also follow a Q word to switch off the light and pull the curtain.  Sometimes, he will misunderstand or forget the Q word and switch off/or not switch off the lights are the right time.  When one scene ubruptly come to a close before time due to confusion in Q, persons to be present in the following scene will not be present when the next scene starts.  The lead actor will managing in dragging on the scene by talking some jokes and common issues till the actual person joins the scene.  Sometimes, I used to forget my dialogue, when the lead actor will inform me as if I have told him what I wanted to say and manage the situation. 

I wonder if anyone of those belonging to DBNS could contact me in the Face Book under :Rajagopalan Krishnaswami., I will feel very happy. 

UNI CANTEEN (NEW DELHI)

UNI CANTEEN

 During 1960s  most of the office goers in Parliament St., and Connaught Place used to assemble for lunch at a private canteen run by an Iyer in the South India Club premises in Jantar Mantar Road.  Those who come for lunch included high government and private company officials.  The Govt. decided to vacate the premises for some improvement and the South India Club and the canteen.  Both the Canteen Iyer and its valued influential customers were able to locate the premises of the compound of the Press Trust  of India building in Parliament St. (now it has a multi storey building).  Once the PTI started with the idea of going in for a multi-storey building the Canteen had also to shift to a new place.  With the influence of the  influential customers, a suitable place was found and the Canteen was shifted to the UNI (United News of India)premises compound, in Rafi Marg adjacent to Mavlankar MPs Flats and back side of the Planning Commission.  This is the birth of the famous UNI Canteen around the 1970s..

The Canteen was run by one Shri Narayana Iyer, who not only managed the Canteen but also was a very social and philonthropical person.  The canteen attracted huge crowd during lunch hour and became a meeting place also for people.  Those who were regular visitors were Senior Officials of the Pvt. Sector Undertakings like the Birlas (in Uco Bank Bldg), Tatas (in LIC building), IFC (Bank of Baroda bldg) and included senior officials of the nearby Government offices right from the Joint Secy level, and sometimes MPs from Tamilnadu.  Shri S. Balasubramaniam known as Vimal Balu used to bring both Anil and Mukesh Ambanis during the lunch house and also many other business Tycoons.  Further most of the famous Carnatic Music Artists, Dramtists and sometimes Film Actors used to be present as guests of some of the regular clients.  I myself have brought most of the well known artists, journalists from Tamil Nadu to the Canteen who come for programmes organized by me on behalf of the Janakpuri Tamil Association.

Incidentally, this is the place where I started learning Astrology under the shade of a Tree from my Guru Shri T. Rangarajan during lunch hours between 1.00 and 2.30 pm for nearly 8 years.  Famous tamil writer Shri PS Ranganathan (Kadugu) and Shri PV Subramanian (aka) Subbudu famous music critic are also regular visitors to the UNI Canteen.

The proprietor of the Canteen known generally  as Iyer used to prepare some special items like Sweets and Savouries to be taken home.   He will also prepare most of the Deepavali items like Jangri, Badam Halwa, laddu, Mysore Pak, Mixture, Muruku etc. for which one has to place orders well in advance.

I still remember those days when I used to go to the UNI Canteen.

A SYNOPSIS OF MY EARLIER DAYS

As I am popularly known as an Octogenarian Terrace Gardener among all my OTG friends, I wish to share my thoughts of my earlier days as a young man.  My past experience has not only inspired my family but many of my associates who have been part of my journey all along. Sharing such experiences not only helps refresh my memory but am sure will be motivating to others too.

After finishing my Schooling in Chennai, I completed Radio Engineering in 1950-52 with a second Class. Hoping to find a job with my engineering certificate, I came to Delhi for employment. Reaching Delhi in 1953, I was told that my Radio Engineering will not fetch a job, but a typing-shorthand will definitely get me employment.  I learnt typewriting and short hand and attained a proficiency of 60 wpm in typing and 120 wpm in Shorthand (Pitman) and got a job in the Institution of Telecom Engineers and then Central Government in the Education Ministry,  where I worked for 10 years.

With an eagerness to get a private employment, I pursued my graduation  from PG DAV College between 1961 & 1964. In the early sixties graduation was 4 years unlike now. I would attend the evening college between 6.00 pm & 9.30 pm daily while at work and after office hours. Thus I became a B.A.

I joined Birlas  was employed with them for close to twenty years beginning 1965  till 1984.  During this time I had an excellent opportunity to learn Astrology which was usually during my 1 hour of lunch break. This went on for nearly 8 years. I was a person who was always ready to experiment new things and would never miss an opportunity when it came to new things. Of course, in our times technology was not so advanced as the present day, however everyday was a new learning with an opportunity to explore new things.

My instinct, as it was guiding me, wanted to take up dramatics. I did not miss out the chance to act with the now famous actor Delhi Ganesan. My evenings would be busy attending the rehearsals and meeting people of varied interests. Acted in Oru Poi (ஒரு பொய்)   by Thuyavan and Mazhai (மழை )   by Indra Parthsarathy to mention a few.  Just reminiscing those days feels nostalgic.

Janakpuri, in early 70’s, was considered Asia’s biggest residential colony. Having shifted to Janakpuri, by the many Tamilians residing in Delhi, an association was formed mainly for the purpose of establishing a school for the children who otherwise have to travel nearly 18 Kms for their schooling. I have been the Secretary, Vice-President & President of the Janakpuri Tamil Association in the years I was in Delhi. I was very proud to be the most active person in bringing out a DTEA’s Sr. Higher Secondary School in Janakpuri.

We had to organize many cultural programmes for raising funds for the DTEA School. Those times were different as people were very enthusiastic about attending such programmes as this gave them an opportunity to socialize with likeminded people.  My extraordinary enthusiasm to do something very different for the society motivated me to organize programmes single handedly. Finding the right artists, arranging for their stay, receiving them, transportation etc., were done solely by me. The programmes use to happen twice a year during March & September. 

Arranging performances brought me in personal contact with several Artists (both Vocal and Instrumental ). In addition have been organizing religious programmes of eminent speakers from South.  Had also known a number of well-known writers like KiVaJa, Sandilyan and Sujatha (கிவாஜ, சாண்டில்யன், சுஜாதா.)  etc.  Several Carnatic Music Artists (Vocal and Instrumental) are my best friends and some of them have stayed in my house and had food also. The well known dramatists RS Manohar, Crazy Mohan, SV Sekhar are also very well known to me.

I have assisted the famous film director Shri K. Balachander in their filming in Delhi  for “Zara Sa Zindagi” a Hindi remake of “Varumai Niram Sigappu” and “Vealaikaran” a tamil make of Namak Halal in Hindi.  In fact, the film Director Shri SP Muthuraman wanted me to be shot in the film and I appear  with Actress Amla in the song sequence “Thottathile Pathi Katti” (தோட்டத்திலே பாத்தி கட்டி)    and this can be viewed in You Tube.  The senior actor Sarath Babu has become a good friend of mine and used to stay with me whenever he came to Delhi with his previous wife and actress Rama Prabha.

 During my stay at Chennai sometime during 1992, I learnt Pranic Healing (Basic, Advanced and Psychotherapy).  I was practicing Pranic Healing in Delhi for nearly four years.  After coming to Bangalore sometime in 2000  I also leant Acupressure and passed the certificate course from Malleswaram. Later on when we moved to Muthiyal Nagar in 2003 I was elected as the Secretary for the Senior Citizens Welfare Association, Mathikere and held the post for nearly two years.

 Now as you all know I am a full time OTGian dedicating most of my time in our Garden experimenting a lot of things with my OTG partners. I am happy with such good friends like you my interests have now become multifold.

 

ROOF GARDEN

JANAKPURI TAMIL ASSOCIATION, NEW DELHI

BIRTH OF JANAKPURI TAMIL ASSOCIATION, NEW DELHI BY R K RAJAGOPALAN To be brief, I have been a Delhi resident since 1953. For sometime, I have been living with my sister and after marriage. I lived in a single room sharing accommodation. From 1960, I have been living in Pershing Square Gole Market), Clive Square (Gole Market), Janakpuri, Vinay Nagar, NDSE Part II and RK Puram. Whenever I have changed my accommodation, I had to make changes with regard to ration card, mailing address etc. very frequently. As suggested by my friends, I registered my name with DDA in 1972 for allotment of a flat in one of their upcoming colonies. As and when houses were ready for allotment, I had applied for allotment of a flat. However, in February 1973, I was fortunate in getting an allotment in Janakpuri, ClA Block, No. 24C. Without wasting much time, I shifted to the new flat on the 6th June 1973 (the same day when the Kumbabhisekham of the Malai mandir was performed. I moved in to the new flat without water and electricity. We had to lift water for our use from the hand pumps in the ground through labourers. There was no public transport in this new colony at all to begin with. It was peak of summer and one can imagine the heat on the second floor without fan or light. Of course the situation improved in two months. The entire Janakpuri had a very little population and there was open drainage as also lots of mosquitoes. Having shifted to Janakpuri, a large number of children studying in the DTEA School in Mandir Marg which was about 18 km away, had to travel daily. The younger children in the age group upto 12 years found it difficult to commute. At this point of time, all the parents who had shifted to Janakpuri and whose children were going to their School 18 km away, met together and wanted to have a small school atleast for the youngsters to save them from the agony of long bus travel. THUS THE JANAKPURI TAMIL ASSOCIATION [JTA] took birth with all parents of DTEA School in Janakpuri , as initial members. It was decided by the JTA to start a small school for children upto Vth standard and for this purpose rented three 2 Bed Room Flats in C2B Block for the primary class and the school was known as JTA School. There were a number of teachers who had resigned their jobs in schools outside Janakpuri and living in Janakpuri. We requested them to take up teaching in the JTA School on an honorarium basis and they readily agreed. In the meantime, since our other children above Vth standard were studying in DTEA School, Mandir Marg, we as members of the DTEA impressed upon the Association to start a School in Janakpuri. The management of the DTEA found it difficult to open a seventh school for which they had no finance. In view of the DTEA’s financial difficulties to open a new school in Janakpuri, the JTA offered to give the infrastructure for the Janakpuri School and when it would be ready DTEA would take the School under their management. It was agreed upon. The JTA initially applied for a land for the School with the DDA to be known as DTEA School. Accordingly, the DDA allotted a plot measuring 3.18 acres in a prime place in Janakpuri and cost was @Re 1 per sq. yd. totaling to around Rs. 18,000/-. To augment financial resources, the JTA have been holding cultural programmes etc. and collected money by sale of tickets and bringing out a Souvenir with advertisement. We have been successful in collecting sufficient fund. Further, we had our friends working in the Embassies through them we could know that development funds would be available for our purpose. We approached the Canadian High Commissioner through their Cultural Attache for assistance. After visiting the school run on rented houses, they agreed to donate us a sum of Rs. 20,000/-. The amount was more than enough for the payment to be made to the DDA for purchase of land. The JTA held a programme of Dance & Music and requested the Canadian High Commission to be our chief guest on that occasion. The programme included Dance by Yamini Krishnamurti, Veena by Chitti Babu and Vocal by Smt. ML Vasanta kumari. The JTA invited the other diplomats from UK, Philippines etc. for this function. The JTA has been holding cultural functions every during February-March and October-November to collect funds for the School Building. The JTA had the privilege of having programmes by Shri Nedanuri Krishnamurthi, Shri Lalgudi Jayaraman, DK Jayaraman, Mani Krishnaswami, Sheikh Chinnamoulana, Tiruchur Ramachandran, Mandolin U Srinivas, Ganesh Kumaresh brothers, Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, Shri N. Ramani and dramas by RS Manohar, Crazy Mohan, Kathadi Ramamurthi, SV Sekhar and Light Music Programmes by Vani Jayaram, SP Balasubramaniam, Ramanan etc. A lot of persons, who were strangers to each other, took part in the initial set up of the Janakpuri Tamil Association. S/Shri S. Padmanabhan, G. Doraiswami Iyengar, K. Aravamudhan, OS Sundaram, KHV Subramaniam, KS Krishnamurthi, AH Ganesan, K. Narayanaswami, TK Venkataraman, R. Srinivasan, G. Goplakrishnan, AVSManiam, R Balachandran, S. Sampath, N.H narayanaswami etc. etc. and many others. [Unfortunately, many of these people are no more, but are remembered very much for their contributions over the years] Initially, it was proposed to construct wooden structures for the class rooms in the school ground and 12 rooms were constructed with Asphalt light roofing. In the meantime, Dr Madan Mehta was appointed as the architect for the construction of the wooden structure as also to draw the building plan for the proposed school building with five blocks of three storeys each. The school land needed a compound wall covering an area of 3.18 acres and the cost would be very high. In this regard the services of Shri Mani Iyer (later known as Veli Mani Iyer of B1A Block) in collecting funds for the purpose is to be remembered very much. Once the wooden class rooms were ready, the school was shifted from the rented flats to the school ground. The recruitment of further teaching staff was done in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Directorate of Education, so that at a future date when the school would be taken over by the DTEA, there may not be any difficulty. The foundation stone for the new school building was laid by the Hon. British High Commissioner Sir John May Bee and a programme of dance, music was arranged in his honour. Many of our members were influential and hence, the material for the construction of the building like Cement, Steel, and Electrical Items were procured at free and/or at concessional prices. Once the first block of the school building was ready, the JTA handed over the land, building and other assets to the DTEA and the school to be run as the eighth School of DTEA . The following teachers are to be remembered for their selfless devotion etc. towards the School run byJTA and later by DTEA : Smt. Seethalakshmi Pillai, Smt. Usha Venkateswaran, Smt. Lakshmi Kumari and Shri Srinivasan etc.